Today, many sales training firms advise originators to adopt a “teaching” sales model as a way to win with a more knowledgeable customer. While this seems like a logical, reasonable approach, the sales process can be anything but. Therein likes the rub. Let me explain. Originators who operate as teachers believe that if they simply
Do Your Originators Sell as Teachers or Leaders? Read More »
Recently, I discussed how today’s selling environment requires originators to form a tribe of followers because they are providing important information to improve their customer’s lives. Selling has moved from pushing products to being a valued educator and leader. Smart originators recognize that hawking mortgage products doesn’t create trust; what does is sharing personal passions,
The Death of AIDA and the Rise of Personal Branding Read More »
Last week at the MBA Annual Convention, the mood was somber. The discussions centered on the industry’s current problems: high costs, tight margins, underperforming originators and negative profitability. Certainly, a dismal litany. It also seems that the grim reality of rising interest rates has thrown everyone for a loop. The number one strategy by most
If You Don’t have a Tribe, You Won’t Succeed in 2019! Read More »
A recent National Mortgage News article, “Ripple Effects,” observed that a new era in mortgage banking has emerged and that conventional wisdom no longer applies. While everyone can cite today’s challenges such as rising interest rates and low housing inventory, it seems management teams are still relying on old strategies that are no longer effective
The Rise of the Zombie Mortgage Banker Read More »
One of the most common complaints that I hear from managers is how Quicken is soliciting borrowers before the lender’s sales staff is able to do so. By reaching out first, Quicken is able to get loans from bank customers before the bank that owns the account! Lenders are frustrated and upset that their
How Quicken Is Stealing Your Accounts! Read More »
A few short years ago, there was no hotter car company than Tesla who was touted as the next great thing in automobile manufacturing. Recently, the company has fallen on difficult times. In Barron’s last week, Bob Lutz, a former Vice Chairman of General Motors, commented on Tesla’s current situation: “It’s an automobile company that
What Mortgage Bankers Can Learn from Tesla Read More »
The hottest question at the executive level is “When will lenders change their compensation packages for originators?” I’ve heard managers say that if someone will be the first to do it, they will follow but the reality is that no one wants to take the lead on this issue. If compensation metrics don’t change, more
The Oracle of Omaha has Spoken Read More »
In a recent Business Insider article, Mark Abadi discussed the difference between amateurs and experts in Scrabble. He said inexperienced players don’t utilize the option to exchange tiles for new ones, thus losing the opportunity to improve future moves which may have higher point values. In essence, Scrabble experts would rather play the long game
What Scrabble and Marshmallows Can Teach Originators! Read More »
It seems like every day I receive emails from lenders that want to hire producing branch managers. The job descriptions are usually similar and require the branch manager to be responsible for P&L, lead management and on-time closings; working with processing and underwriting; recruiting and retaining branch sales and support staff; and generating their own
What Lenders Need Now Are Great Managers! Read More »
In today’s more difficult marketplace, the question I hear most frequently is some version of “What must my company do to succeed in a world where the consumer’s home-buying journey has changed so dramatically?” Consider that in just five years, more than 50% of homebuyers are finding their homes by searching the Internet. This monumental
Disruptors and the Importance of People Analytics Read More »
